Want a Great School Lunch? It’s in the Bag!

Trying to save money? Improve your children’s health? Or maybe a little of both? Packing school lunches is a great way to address these goals.

This school year, try these yummy treats and tricks in your child’s lunch:

Reinvent favorites. Instead of using white bread, try bread, English muffins, tortillas, or bagels made from whole grains as the base of a sandwich. Get creative with the fillings, too. Swap out sugary jelly in a PB&J sandwich and replace it with apple slices, banana slices, or raisins.

Swap out salty sides. A handful of a fruity trail mix (made of dried fruits like cranberries, apple slices, dates, and raisins) is a great substitute for potato chips, pretzels, and other salty snacks.

Make it mini. Cheese, chicken, melons, and veggies are easier to eat if you slice them into cubes or chunks. Your child won’t need to worry about cutting things up at the lunch table and will have plenty of time to enjoy these healthy foods.

Don’t forget dips. Instead of salad dressings and ketchup, spice up a sack lunch with salsa (mango, pineapple, and tomato are kid favorites). Hummus is another tasty partner to apple slices, whole-grain crackers, cubed foods, and other healthy treats.

Get crafty. Want to make lunch feel interesting, fun, and full of love? Try using art supplies, cookie cutters (to make square sandwiches into fun shapes), cloth napkins, flowers, a note from you, and stickers.